. >> he designed the center for pain relief, he says, to be a welcoming, supportive environment for patients who want to live normal lives. >> to make it, you know, human, to make it tender, to make it hospitable. when people ask me, is it hard? no, it's not hard. it's a privilege to do that. >> it really gets to you, doesn't it? >> by 2001, our claims managers were sending me cases of injured workers who had had a low-back sprain and who were dead three years later from an unintentional overdose of prescribed opioids. it was the saddest thing i'd ever seen. >> so he took action, helping write guidelines that this year became state law. it applies to non-cancer chronic pain patients. it mandates prescriber education, treatment plans called pain contracts between physicians and patients, and tracking of opioid use. if states don't follow new laws reflecting best practices and universal prautions so opioids can be used safely and effectively, this will never turn around. >> the washington state law does have its share of critics, many of whom are patients dealing with pain right now. they are